Nearly over then. Just the one match left on Sunday. Don't want too many
hamburgers when there is some delightful Charolais fillet steak to come
soon.

Yes, the cliches about Twenty20 compared to Test cricket do still hold true.

But, that said, the World Twenty20 has been a marvellous tournament, and for that its director, Steve Elworthy, should be applauded.

It began shambolically on and off the field (no opening ceremony and the hosts losing to Holland), but has grown into an alluring spectacle. The crowds have reflected that (over 95 per cent attendance apparently). It has been fast, fun, furious and highly skilled. The gospel has been spread successfully, with new audiences reached. Job done.

But now is the time to move on. The Ashes are coming. Twenty20 memories don't last. Which is just as well for England.

South Africa. Seriously. Ruthlessly efficient until J-P Duminy batted so witlessly in the semi. Single-handedly cost them the game. Harsh, but true.

Shot of the tournament

Didn't see anything new. Honestly. The Dilscoop, Starfish or whatever you want to call it? Eoin Morgan, among others, has played that before. Every second county player plays the 'Ramp' these days. All bloody dangerous, though.

I liked Mahela Jayawardene's back of the bat reverse-sweep off Jacob Oram. Andrew Symonds did it once for Kent against Glamorgan at Maidstone. Classy.

Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews. You must have seen it. Caught it, realised he was going over boundary, threw it up, smashed it tennis-style back inside rope and saved six. Amazing.

Find of the tournament

South Africa's 19-year-old left-arm quickie, Wayne Parnell. What a prospect. South Africa would be mad to permit his return to Kent. The treadmill is no place for one so young. I first saw him against Middlesex this season. The notices had been grand. But he was awful – 10-1-75-1 propelled at military medium- because he was knackered. It was his 11th day of playing in 13. Too much county cricket? Never.

Most glaring absentee

Australia's Brad Hodge. One of the better Twenty20 batsmen in the world, currently on a Cricket Australia contract. Uh?

Silliest post-match interview. England's Ryan Sidebottom, after defeating India, said: "We'll have a few beers tonight and we'll be rarin' to go against the West Indies tomorrow." Don't you just love the professionalism?

Best post-match interview

Coach Gary Kirsten after India's exit: "There's a reasonably big gap between the IPL [Indian Premier League] and what's happening internationally." What? So the IPL is not the greatest thing on earth? Wonderful to hear.

Reputation most damaged

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's captaincy. He had a shocker. From ill-judged selections, to unfathomable batting orders to mystifying bowling changes. Burning his effigies back home might have been a little over the top, though.

Shrewdest decision

Younus Khan's moving of Shahid Afridi to No 3 for Pakistan's last two matches. Dormant form reawakened. But…

Most curious decision

Khan's to give left-arm spinner Fawad Alam his first over of the competition in the 15th over of a seething semi-final. It went for 15.

Proving them wrong

South Africa's Jacques Kallis. Dropped for the last World Twenty20, he rather made his point this time.

Sussed

Brendon McCullum's overwhelming predilection for the off-side swat. The Indians' shivering dislike of the short ball, especially Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina. And, finally, most hilariously... Messrs Duckworth and Lewis. Their system doesn't work for Twenty20. Back to the books then.